Type-writer cabinet



(No Modem 3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

w. HORROOKS'. TYPE WRITER CABINET.

No. 535,203. Patented Mar. 5. 1395.

(No Model.) a Sheets-Sheet 2.

W. HORROGKS.

TYPE WRITER CABINET. I No.- 535,203. PatentedMar. 5, 189 5.

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(No Model.) v 3 Sheets-Sheet 3. W HORROCKS. TYPE WRITER GABINET. No. 535,203 Patented- Mar. 5;1895.

WILLIAM HORROCKS, OF HERKIMER, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO THE UNITED TYPEWRITER AND SUPPLIES COMPANY, OF BRIDGEPORT,

CONNECTICUT.

TYPE-WRITER CABINET.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 535,203, dated March 5, 1895.

Application filed November 8, 1894. Serial No. 528,255. (No model.)

Cabinets, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to that class of type writer cabinets in which the lid of the cabinet and the type writer platform are so connected together as that by the opening of the lid the type writer will be brought up toa workingposition, and that by the closing of the lid the type writer will be moved to a non-working position so that the lid may be employed as a desk top for the usual purposes; and my invention has for its main object to provide means whereby when the lid is opened the platform and the type writer thereupon may be advanced more quickly than heretofore, in order that the machine may readily escape contact With the lid, the fixed portion of the desk top, or with the shelves, pigeon-holes or drawerswhich maybethereupon. Heretofore the construction was such that this end could not be accomplished excepting by either making the cabinet very deep or by making the shelves, pigeon-holes or the like very shallow, both of which constructions are objectionable.

My invention consists primarily in combining with the lid and tilting and rising platform a pair of levers provided with gear teeth adapted to mesh with a pair of racks on the platform to advance the latter, and secondarily, in certain other combinations of parts, all as will be hereinafter more fully described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a front elevation of a type writer cabinet embod ying my invention, with the lid in Working position. Fig. 2 is a vertical section thereof taken at the line 00, a: of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a section similar to Fig. 2, but with the type writer platform in working position, this view showing also by dotted lines a partial elevation of the type writing machine known as the Caligraph, to which the improvements are especially applicable, this machine being both long and high in its dimensions and difficult to provide a cabinet for, of the kind shown, without incorporating some objectionable feature. Fig. l is a vertical section showingthe position of the parts at the initial move ment of the platform. Fig. 5 is a similar view showing the position of the parts just before the completion of the upward movement of the platform; and Fig. 6 is a'detail view showing a-modification of the platform front guiding means.

The cabinet as usual comprises side sections 1, 1, which may contain each a set of drawers or partitions or the like, a connecting back board 2, a fixed top 3 for each side section and an intermediate top portion t at the back of the cabinet, extending the fulllength there of. Upon the fixed tops is mounted a frame work 5 containing sets of pigeon-holes, partitions, drawers, &c., extending substantially the whole length of the cabinet at the rear side thereof, as clearly shown. Between the side sections there is aclear space or opening for the accommodation of the type writer plat form 6, the type writer 7 and lid 8, when the latter is not in its working position.

The platform, to which the type writer is secured by clips or other devices 9, is provided on its under side and at each side contiguous to the section 1 with a bracket 10 attached by screws 11 and formed with a longitudinally slotted frame 12, the lower bar or member of which is provided with a series of teeth 13 forming a rack. To the front end of the bracket 10 is pivoted at 14 the upper end of a guiding link 15, whose lower end is pivoted at 16 to the side section 1 or to a plate or hearing thereon.

The lid is connected at its forward end and at each side to the side sections 1 by links 17, each of which is pivoted at one end, as at 18, to the side section or a bearing thereon, and at the opposite end, as at 19, to the lid or a bracket 20 thereon. The rear end of the lid is connected at each side to the platform and to the side section 1 by a lever 21, which is pivoted at 22 to the lid or a bracket thereon, and at 23 fulcrumed to the side section or a bracket 24 thereon. Each said lever 21 is a lover of the. first order, and its shorter arm to assist in counterbalancing the platformol'f the machine.

Referring to Fig.2, it will be observed that the lid is in a horizontal or closed position,

at which time the cabinet .may be used as an ordinary writing desk. The front side of the lid is provided with a vertical cross piece 30, against which the upper end of the platform rests when the lid is down. The lower end of the platform at Fig. 2 rests behind an obliquely-arranged cross strip 31, which together with a horizontal cross piece 32 extends from one side section to the other and is joined thereto. The lid, its cross piece 30, the platform, the cross strips 31 and 32, the back and the fixed top 4 surround or house the machine and protect it from dust and injury when in disuse, but to more completely inclose the machine side strips of wood 33, 33, and 34, 34 are attached to the side sections.

When the lid is closed and the machine is thus housed or dropped down into the well or opening between the side sections, the platform, the links 15, the links 17, and the levers 21 occupy the positions shown at Fig. 2. When it may be desired to bring the machine up into a position for use the frontof the lid is lifted, as shown at Fig. 4, whereupon the links and levers commence to vibrate about their pivots or centers and the platform to move upwardly and forwardly and at the same time to rock or tilt.

By referring to Fig. 5 it will be seen that as the opening of the lid is continued the platform is gradually rocked as it is lifted, and that the same time it is being projected forward and upward by the rack and pinion. At the completion of the opening of the lid the platform is brought to a horizontal position, as shown at Fig. 3, and with the machine in proper condition for immediate use. In this position the platform is sustained or supported by the links 15 and the shorter arms of the levers 21. It will be seen that in the movement of the lid to raise the machine the lid is gradually dropped behind the platform and into the well, and when the platform and the machine are ina horizontal working position the lid stands in a vertical position at right angles thereto, with the lower end of the lid resting upon buffers or cushions 35 projecting upwardly from strips 36 attached to the side sections. The movementof thelid from the normal horizontal position to the vertical position shown at Fig. 3 is effected by reason of its pivotal connection to the lovers 21 and the guiding links 17.

It will be observed that by reason of the connection of the levers 21 to the platform through the racks and pinions the platform is given a quick forward and upward movement as it rocks about the plain movable pivot or bearer 27, and thus the machine will readily avoid contact with the lid and any of the fixtures upon the top of the cabinet at the rear side thereof; and it will also be observed that these devices operate to afford to the front portion of the platform the desired extent of projection so as to bring the key board of the machine at once to the proper working position and without the necessity for shifting the machine independently relatively to the platform.

The construction and relative arrangement of the parts are such that the 'lidproper substantially counterbalances the platformand the machine .and hence it requireslittle effort to either bring the machine up into working position or to drop it back into the well. In returning the machine to its non-working position the lidis drawn up from the position shown at Fig. 3 and the levers '21 operate through the racks and pinions and plain bearings to rock the platform and draw it downwardly and rearwardly .until .the parts are brought 'to the positions shown at Fig. 2. In the returning as well as the opening movement, the platform ,is prevented fromfalling independently by ,gravity on account of the rack and pinion connection between the levers and the platform, and in this returning movement the machine likewise avoidsstriking the lid, the top, or any of the fixed parts of the cabinet.

From .the foregoing it will be understood that the rack and pinion .drive forward or advance the platform, while the plain portion or bearer of the device 25 is acting to lift the platform, and that by reason of this plain portion the platform may readily slide under the action of the pinion and rack during the lift ing action, and it will also 'be observed that by reason of the levers 21 and the links 15 the platform is tilted and guided during its rising and forward movement. In lieu of the guiding links 15, curved slots, as shown at 3.7, may be formed in the side sections or in brackets thereon, in which may slide guiding pins 38 projecting laterally from theplatform.

The cabinet may be provided with a rolltop, and various other changes in details of construction and arrangementof the cabinet may likewise be made, and if desired the set of pigeon-holes and drawers at the top may be dispensed with.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In atype writer cabinet, the combination with the swinging lid,.and the tiltingand rising type writer platform having a pair of ICC racks, of a pair of levers pivoted between their ends to the sides of the cabinet, and attached each at one end to the lid and provided eachat its opposite end with gear teeth operating in connection with the racks to advance the platform during the tilting and rising action thereof, substantially as set forth.

2. In a type writer cabinet, the combination with the sides, the lid, and the type writer platform, of a pair of lovers fulcrumed at the sides of the cabinet, pivotally connected at their rear ends to the rear portion of the lid and provided at their front ends with partial pinions engaging a pair of racks on the said platform, and operating to advance the platform and means for guiding the lid and the platform, whereby the latter 'in rising is caused to both oscillate and slide or move bodilyforward substantially as set forth.

3. In a type writer cabinet, the combination with the sides, the lid, means for guiding it, the type writer platform, and means for guiding it, of a pair of levers fulcrumed at the sides of the cabinet, pivotally connected at their rear ends to the rear portion of the lid and provided at their front ends with partial pinions and plain bearers, racks connected to the platform to engage the said partial pinions and bearing surfaces on said platform for said bearers to work in contact with, substantially as set forth.

4.. In a type writing cabinet, the combina tion with the sides of the cabinet, the guided lid, and the guided type writer platform, of a pair of slotted brackets on the under side of the platform having each a rack and a bearing surface, and a pair of levers fulcrumed on said sides and having each at its forward end a partial pinion and a plain bearer and pivotally connected at its rear end to the rear portion of said lid, substantially as set forth.

5. In a type writer cabinet, the combination of the sides of the cabinet, the lid, the links 17, the type writer platform, the links 15, the levers 21 having each a partial pinion and a plain bearer, and the slotted brackets having each a rack and a bearing surface, the whole arranged and operating in substantially the manner shown and described.

Signed at Herkinner, in the county of Herkimer and State of New York, this 3d day of November, A. D. 1894. 7

WILLIAM I-IORROOKS.

\Vitnesses:

C. A. SNYDER, G. G. STIMsoN. 

